The NAGC 64th Annual Convention (NAGC17) got off to a roaring start when Austin Cindric, driver for Brad Keselowski Racing and full time competitor on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, spoke with students from Charlotte’s Piedmont Middle School at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The students spent the morning learning about science, math, and teamwork through a STEM learning experience at the museum. They also heard from veteran NASCAR Crew Chief Doug Richert, who at 19-years-old served as Dale Earnhardt’s chief during Earnhardt’s 1980 title season. View the NASCAR Student Learning Event photo album.

Thursday

North Carolina State Superintendent Mark Johnson welcomed NAGC17 attendees during the general session at which Piedmont’s principal, Jackie Barone, was recognized as the 2017 NAGC Administrator of the Year, Earlier in the day, Dr. Johnson, facilitated a discussion among North Carolina school superintendents focused on supporting gifted learners.

Duke University’s Angel Harris spoke passionately about the role race plays in the achievement gap between students from minority populations and their non-minority counterparts.

Saturday

The movie Gifted has spurred a national conversation on the needs of gifted and talented students, helping bring much-needed attention to this long-overlooked population of learners. Tom Flynn, the film’s screenwriter, was featured in a panel discussion led by NAGC Executive Director M. René Islas.

Many parents and children participated in Family Day, presented by GiftedAndTalented.com. This free event provided opportunities for parents to learn the ins and outs of raising a gifted child and for children to participate inexciting and interactive programming, including the popular PinBox 3000 activity.

The 2017 Martin D. Jenkins Scholars took a few minutes to share their thoughts on receiving this prestigious award. Watch the Jenkins Scholars interview.

Sunday

The moving Alexinia Baldwin Tribute by Joe Renzulli, University of Connecticut, was given prior to the closing session, which featured a panel discussion with legends in the field of gifted education. These influential leaders shared their distinctive perspectives on giftedness and high potential. The panel was led by NAGC Board President Sally Krisel, and joining Renzulli on the panel were Sandy Kaplan, USC Rossier School of Education, Linda Silverman, Gifted Development Center, and Frank Worrell, University of California, Berkley.